I believe that there are true Christians in the Catholic Church and my comment did not say I think this minster's faith is "null and void". My observations from being a former Catholic, reading the comments of those here as well as knowing many fine Catholics personally, including my Mother who lives with us, cause me to ask that question. The verses from John 10 opened my eyes to the Gospel because Jesus plainly said we HAVE eternal life and will never perish or be snatched from his hands. From that point on, I knew I did not want to stay in the Catholic Church. It was not coercion nor force nor rebellion from God that brought me to this point. It was a movement OF God on my heart and I knew.
That's why I can ask a former Protestant this question. I'm not saying he lost his salvation - something I reject can happen - nor that he stopped being a Christian as a Roman Catholic, just how he could let go of the assurance of salvation that Scripture clearly teaches in favor of a religion that views such assurance as sinful. It's an honest question.
this sort of thinking about assured salvation then causes you to use the protestant tactic of reinterpreting plain meaning of scripture, for example, when paul says to ‘work out ones salvation with and trembling, etc....
obviously that shows that it isnt assured, but since the plain text shows that, a reinterpretation, or appeal to context, has to be made to shoe horn fit it in to assured salvationland....
notice that in the bible where it is talked of how nothing can take you away from christ....and a litany of sins etc, are given....and the author says, ha, see, christ is overcomes all that....but note, one thing is missing from that list.....the individual himself, or herself, who, having free chosen a gift, can reject that gift later....again, there is no assurance, othewise, we are just robots under control of a puppetmaster....who supposedly gives us a a freewill to choose, and then once we choose, all the sudden, its iron clad....no, itz not, you can stop and return that gift....just like all those folks who claim that when one leaves whatever ‘free’ nondenominational ‘bible believing’ church, well, they were never saved anyway.... and believe me, ive witnessed that in my own house with members of my wife’s family....if these bible believing folks can dismiss someone as nvr really saved in the first place....well, you can have the last word on this....as a catholic, im following His one holy catholic and apostolic church that was built on the rock of st peter....